Tire-signal.



G. T. HACKLEY.

TIRE SIGNAL.

`A PPLIOAJEION FILED 1130.14, 1910. RENEWED APR.11, 1912.

jwgzp'yygm Patented Nov. 19, 1912 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l Y y t A ML] N 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

TIRE SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED P13014, 191() RLNIIWBD AP'R. 11,1912.

G. T. HACKLEY.

- JMW? @www UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE fr. HACKLEY, oE Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. A

t TIRE-SIGNAL` Specification of Letters latent. Patented NOV. 19, 1912.e

AppIication' led December` 14, 1910, .Serial 597,362. Renewed April11,'1912. Ser'aI'No. 690,181.

' 'l'o cuil' utom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEOBGE T. HACKLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles, in the county .of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, haveinventeda new and useful Tire-Signal, of which thefollowing is a specification. This invention relates to a. device whichis adapted tobe secured to a pneumatic tire and to provide a signalwhich, when in vone position, indicates that there is sufiicientpressure in the -t-ire, and when in anotherpo# Asition will indicatethat the pressure in the tire has fallen below a definite point, thepurpose of the device being `to enable the condition of the pressure tobe told at a glance without requiring careful scrutiny to read a scale.Pressure gages, or the like, which have heretoforebeeii employed,require a careful scrutiny of the scale in order to determine thepressure-,but for nearly allpracticalgpurposes the operator of anautomobile, as a rule, is particularly concerned only with knowingwhether the pressure in the tire 'is enough to run wit-hout injury tothe tire; he does not oi^dinai'il i f-ca1e to know what that exactpressure is in pounds o1' fractions thereof, and it the object o f thepresent invention .to provide a signal having two positions so that, forexample, the signal will4 remain stationary in one position so long asthe pressure remains above seventy pounds; but when-the pressure fallsbelow seventy pounds the signal is automatically moved to anotherposition, whereby thc operator of the automobile may see at a glancethat the pressure is below the sate point.

` The signal will remain in this position until the tire has beeninflated to raise the pressure to seventy 'pounds or more.

A distinguishing and novel feature which enables the condition of thetlre to be immediately a'scertalned without close scrutiny,

is that thesignal does not move gradually from one extreme positiontoanother, but has only two positions which are markedly diti'erent fromeach other, and the signal when operated automatically moves suddenlyfrom one position to-'the other so that it is always in the one positionl or the other and occupies no intermediate position which wouldnecessitate a careful scrutiny or measurement.

This. device is des1gncd to operate at relatively"highpressures in thetire, that is,`at or near the pressure normally carried in the tire. Adrop -of ten pounds from the normal pressure cannot be detected bynoting the appearance of the tire` yet the signal'A ferred form an airchamber which is placed in communication with the. interior of the tire,therel being` a diaphragm arranged'on one side o-f the air chamber, anda slidable button having two positions, with niechafnism operated by thediaphragm when extended by air pressure to detachably lock the button inone position, the said mechanism acting automatically to release thebutton when the diaphragm-recedes from the extended position upon areduction of pressure in the tire. The button thereupon be; ingprojeetedinto its othery position indi` cates that the pressure the dcsred'pontat which the device is designed to act. The resistanceA ofthe diaphragmto thepressure of air in the tire is atforded by a spring, the pressureof which `againstfthe diaphragm will. determine the point at which thediaphragm will recede and will thereby determine the pressure at whichthe button will be released and pro- 'jectedl One of the devices isintended to be carried on the valve stem of each tire, taking the placeof the ordinary dust cap. I n one form, in order to inflate the tire,thedevice must be unscrewed from the valve stem; while in another form thedevice is so constructed that the/tire may be kinflated withsufiicientpressure, or vice versa. Tn practice, however, I prefer to 'have theinner or as it should be responsive 'to' thefv over the end of Y hasreduced -below 13'is a sectional view, showing another form Hushposition of the button designate'suiiicient pressure and the extendedposition of the button designate insuiiicient pressure.-

Referring to the drawings :-Figure-1 is a side elevation of a' portionof a rim and` tire equipped with the device, the device indicating thatsuiiicient pressure -isv in the tire. Fig. 2 .is a view similar to Fig.1, the."

device indicating that there is insufficient pressure in the tire.. Fig.3 is'an enlarged,

sectional view through the device as applied to the valve stein, showingpart of the rim and part of the'tire'in section. vIn this view thevsignal is in flush position indicating sufficient pressure. Fig.4 4 is aview enlarged greater than Fig. 3, showin the,V

view in detail olf' a cone'andcoil spring which depresses the same. Fig.9.is a section o n line wpa-ml Fig. 6. Fig.-10 is av sec-. tion on line'wwf-'ww Fig. 5. Fig.'11 is alvertical, longitudinalA view throughanother form, showingth'e button in- Hush position."

Fig. 12 is a View similar to Fig. 11, showing --the button extendedposition.- Fig.

whereinv extended position-of the button indicates suiiicientpressureandlush position indicates insuiiieient ressure.

' Referring to the ildrm'shown in Figs. `1 to l10 inclusive, th devicecomprises a bar- 'rel l. internally threaded at its lower 'end I 40 andadapted to be screwed on the valve stein 2. The u per end'of the barrel1' is enlarged and 4ormed with an internally threadedA iange 3, and'screwedl therein is the-angedlower end of a cap 4. The.

upper end' ofthe cap 4 isperforated 'and slidable therein is a hollowbutton-v5, the

lower end of which is formed with a'iiange 6 which slides in the upperpart of the cap- 4 and acts to guide the utton. Below the flange 6 thetubularfport-ion is provided with several slits 7 and the meta-l is-hardened and tempered toformspring fingers 8. Formed on the" lower endsof the spring fingers are shoulders 9 with' sloping sides 10. 'Ihe cap4,-'is f ormedwith a shoulder 11 which servesas a s'at for' lthe Iiange12' j of a button holder com rising a-frusto-'coni cal shell13,'shownin. etail in'Fig. 6, which is provided with "slits 14C-to form severalheld lagainst: the shoulder 'l1 by a threadedsleeve 16 which 'isscrewed'into the 'ap 4.' The .lower part of the cap 4 is provided.

spring lingers 15. The button holder is with an externally threaded flan17 which is screwed into the flange' 3. ithin the -of thinl springmetal, the edges of the diaphragm being secured to the diaphragm -holderwith `an air-tight Joint, thereby Aforming an air chau'iber'20 ofvariable size fbetween thefdiaphragm and diaphragm holder. 21 designatesthe plunger stein of the valve which is depressed by a projection 22 onthe diaphragm holder and the diaphragm holder'is provided with a centralorifice 23 which .extends through the projection'22, so that .when theinstrument is applied, as shown in Fig. 3, air -from within the tire ispermitted to enter through. the perforation 23 into the' air chamber 2Obelow the diaphragm, 19." It should be lunderstood that the end of thepin 21 makes a poor contact with the lowerend of the projection22 andthus does not prevent the passage of. air into the perforation '123. Arubber gasket 24 is seated in the lower portion of the diaphragml holder18 and bears against `the upperrim of the valve steiri .2 and preventsleakage of air. Above the d1a phragm4 19 is a cone 25 and thetlat'ter isyieldingly held against the diaph ag'm by acompression spring 26 locatedw thin the .button 5." The compressed air from within vthe tie,"whichenters the airpchambei-QO, distende thegdiaphragml) and pushes up 'thecone 25 iintil the diaphragm 1s fully d istended-or it strikes .thelower rim ofl the Abutton holder 13; the latter may a'ct as a positivestop to prevent the diaphrz'rppn4 from further movement. If .the button5 be then depressed, the lower edges sofA *fthe spring fingers' 8 willbe forced between ,the cone. 25 and' ,spring 'fingers -15 and lfas thecone A25 can'not yield downwardly,`: being supported by the diaphragm,the sprrng fingers 15'are sprungloutwardly, permitting theshoulder oftpe'spring fingers 8; to engagethelower edges of the spring fingers 15,whereupon the buttonis locked: frfffim upward movement, the parts .thenbeinggin the position shown in Figf, and when the button is in thisposition' with itsfnppeil end Hush with the cap 4, it. indicates thatthere is a suiiicient air pressure .in the tire.

When the pressure injthc tire reduces, .the 4 -spring 26 will force theconel 25 gradually downward, causing the diaphragm.; 20,;to retractat arate proportioned to the gradual reduction of pressure in the tire. andthe cone 25. thus lowers, it gradually permits vthe Espring fingers 8 toretract to mov'e in- Wardly and radiallyv and when the cone 25 has`descended far enough, the shoulder 19 of the spring fingers willIdisengage the A p lower edgefo spring fingers 15, whereupon the .springr2.6'will thrust the buttonjout wardly, so' that it protrudes from thccap 4,

,the parts then taking the position shown in Fig. 4, antl when thebutton is in th'is position -it indicates that the pressure in the tirehas fallen to the lowest safe pressure and that the tire should4 beinflated. In this form of the invention it isnecessary to remove thedevice from the valve stem in' order to inflate the tire.

Figs. 11 and 12 show another 'form in which the tire may be iniiatedwithout removing the device. In the latter form, the flange 3a of thebody la is provided with a transverse bore 27 Within which is arrangedan automatic spring-operated valve 28 of well known construction, whichis readily removable from the bore 27 and' which permits air to bepumped in'through the nipple 29 and prevents air from, escaping out--wardly therethrough. The flange 3a is also` provided with a"|longitudinal' orifice 30 which intersects with the bore 27, therebygiving communication between thevalve stem Qaand the air chamberQOibelow the diaphragm and also giving communication from the bore 27 tothe valve stem 2a. AA gasket 31 is arranged in the upper end of thebarrel 1a and bears against/the'upper rim of the valve stem 2 preventingleakage. In this form, the valve in the stem 2 is entirely removed, sothat no depresser device for holding the same open is required as in theprevious form. In this form I have shown the edges` of the diaphragm 19acrimped and provided with a series 'of circumferential corrugations 32which are indented in a gasket, preferably, a rubber Yring 33, thelatter being vulcanized onto the corrugated rim of the diaphragm, sothat the parts are more firmly united than it the diahragm' were clampedbetween two separate gaskets. At Vthe same time, the single rubbergasket 33 permits the slight spring of the edge of the -diaphragmwhichitnaturally takes when the diaphragm is moved from one position to theother. While virtually all of the movement of the diaphragm is confinedto its center portion, I have found in practice that at the rim of thediaphragm there is an extremely slight spring when the diaphragm isoperated which tends to loosen the joint between the diaphragm andgasket unless the union at this point is good. This method ofelastically supporting the edge of the diaphragm ohviates this. Thegasket 33 is clamped betweenthe rim 3a and cap 4. In this form, the cone34 is formed with a threaded stem 35 on which is a nut h 3G and thespring 26a presse-s aga-inst the nut 36. By adjusting the nut 3G on thethreaded stem 35, the pressure of the spring 26 i may be varied to causethe signal to, be operated at various degrees of pressure. The dc- 36.Thus, for example, the cone 34 may be number at which the signal is set.Thus, if

the tine were to carry a pressure of seventy pounds per square inch, thearrow 3S wouldbe adjusted in line with the numeral 70, as shownin Figs.11 and l2, and when the pressure in the tire has fallen ten pounds lessthan seventy, the button would be released. The amount of decrease inpressure.

from the maximum to the minimun, for instance-in the above example often pounds, is determined by the form of the cone 34 and the width ofthe shoulders 93L at the lower ends of'the spring fingers 8, for, asthepressure 1n the tire gradually decreases,

the diaphragm 19a is graduallymoved down by the springlta and thisdownward movement continues until the 'shoulders 9a are released: Bymaking the shoulders 9a wider and the cone 31 with a longer stroke, thereduction in pressure from maximum to reinimum .will be greater. Forvmost purposes, however, a reduction in pressure of from ten' to fifteenpounds is preferred,*as it is notdesired to .inflate the tires abovetheir regular point yof inlation and it is desired Athat. the pressureshould fall below this pointv not more than ten or fifteen poundshe'lor'e they should be reinfiated to secure the best service from them.In infiating the tire in this form, it is not necessary to remove thedevice, inflation is made through the nipple 29, the air passingdownwardf'into orifice 30 througlrvalve stem 2j* andthence 'to the innertube.

39 designates a union which is revoluble on'the lower end of the barrel1l and forms n eans of attaching the device to the valve stem 2a. IVherethe union 39 is employed, it is not necessary to rotate the barrel la.This prevents cutting the gasket 31 against the rim of the valve stem 2as would occur "in screwing'on the barrel la. 1V ith this construct-ionthe barrel 1 does not revolve While the union 39 rmly draws the barrel1aL downward and forms a tight tit between the gasket 31 and upper rimofthe valve stem 2a.

The diaphragm 19b is formed of spring metal and is adapted to occupyeither of the twopesitions shown. If moved either side of the center,the diaphragm will furnish its own elasticity to snap into its extremeposition.-' The button fia-bears directly against the diaphragm and thenut LtO'serewed on the button acts to adjust the pressureo the spring2Gb and also serves as a guide fer he lower end of the button., 18.designatesa.

disk provided with the Valve, depressor 21",

' the disk 18D serving to hol'dthe/;diapliragm 19b against a shoulderformed in the barrel lb. In this form of the invention the buttonindicates maximum pressure in the tire when the button is extended andupona re. duction of prcssure'of` the tire, the spring ylmoves downthebutton 5?, but the latter v guiding the button, mea srespoiisive to thebutton having air pressure in pho tirlil f lr holding the button in oneposi ion when' the pressurev is at any force `above a definite, point,and for moving the button tov itsother posit-ion when' the pressurefalls. ,to any force.. below' saiddefinae point. y 2. A tire' signalcomprising .a casing adapted to be secured to the tire, an indicatingbutton mounted on saidcasing to move through a Vdefinite range .betweentwof' ex-Y treme positions, and means' eon'stantly'i pre-- ventingescapeof air roinjthecasingl Zand'.

' the Vpressure'iintl1e tirerfoton-'at'oneextrern .A

definitefpoint'and for'inovingthej b u the otherextreme positionwhen'the pressi falls tosuchidiinite point. 3. A tire signal comprisinganndlc buttol'i,v guidingmeans for the button, means` controlledibythepress'uref'inthe tire oijf holding the button-"flush with 'the meanswhile the pressureis above-a 'defini4 point andforcausingthe buttontomove' out, and protrude r'oi'nlthe 'gu'iding'rme'ais when the pressure.lfalls below the definite point-.VA 4. A tire signal comprising anvindicatinof' twol indicating positionguiding means for 'thebu-tton,meansfo -movingthe but-t0n Afrom one position to the other2 andmeanscontrolled4 by the fair, 'pres sure in' the tire for detachably'locking-th button in one of -its indicatingpositionsm l 5. A tire sign'comprising a body adap-v ecl to`be connectedv with the tire, a-signatslidable in the body, a spring orimovingi the signal in one direction,and pneumati-4 cally controlled means in the body for dey' tachablylocking said signal in one position under the spring tension and4operatingl 'upon a reduction of pressrepin the body to release thesignal and permit the spring to move the signal to the -other position.1 6. A tire signal comprising abody adapted to be connected' withthej-tire, a dia;' .phragm inthe body,

a' spring on one side of y inthe tire,'a signal slidable in the body andoperated by the spring,and means operated 'when the diaphragm isdistended.

7. A tire signal comprising a butt-on having two positions, means forguiding the button, means. responsive to the-air pressure- `in the tirefor holding thebutton in one nite point, andfor moving 'the button sud-,denly toits other positionwhenthe pressure'falls below such point. 8. Atire signal comprising abarrel, a button slidable` therein and formedwith spring fingers,` meansA within the barrel toi-ming a' shoulder, adiaphragm in the bar-I rel /exposed on one-side to the pressure ithetire, a cone on the other sideof,'the diaphlragm' adapted to spreadthe fingers of the 4bul'tton -into engagement with said shoulder,

cone.

lbw button slidable therein and formed with fslit-ted to ferm springngers within the /barreh'a diaphragm in the barrel exposed 'on Onesideltothe air pressure inthe'tire, 'leone' resting against the other sideofthe i'aphragm t'and adapte-d to spread.; the

` f' `shouldered ends ofthe button iingers'into engagementgfwith thelower ends voffthe .spring @lagers of said Abutton holder, and .ssp'rlng' within saidvbutton and bearing g `against the (gone.

.10:.A tire-"signal comprising a barrel, a button" 'slidable -inthebarrel into either of .two-positions said barrel being adapted tobeplaced -in communication `with' the air preSSeainth-e-tire, `adiaphragm in said .barrehon'e' vsid'e-of which receives said airpressure, and means on the other si'deoi smid fdi'aphr and responsive tothe movenv fpoi'nt; and for moving the button suddenly tol-its'.otherpositifon, when the pressure falls belowffsuchpoint,'-said barrelhaving a :lateral orificefwhich communicates with the interior of, thebarrel, and la Valve in' said oriice.,. 'A 11.' A. tire signalcomprising a button having` two positlolns, means, for guiding thebutton, mea'ns; responsive to the air'pressuro .in'-lthetirelforrholding the button in one po- -sition when the pefssur isabove a definite point and formoi'ing he button suddenly below suchpoint, 'aand Iheans for adjusting' xthe second named =unean'is to makethe same responsive to yarious degrees of pressure. .f. 12. .A tiresignal comprising a barrelp a the diaphragm, the other sideof the da '-2phragm being exposed tothe air 'pressur y'lbutton isli able therein'iand formed with iin ers, means y. 'within the barrel by the diaphragmfor locking the signal.

:position when the pressure is above a defi-' ftpringfingers havingshoulders, 'a button @holder comprising a cylindrical. -member- -thereofor holdi'ng the button in one p l `tlon When'theI pressure is above adefinite and a spring between the button' @and said ,1' 9. Aj-tiresignalcoinprising a bariel., a hol. i

- toits other positidmwhn the pressure falls nomme forming a shoulder, adiaphragm 'in' the barrel, one side of which receives the air pressurefrom the tire, a cone on the other side of the diaphragm for spreadingthe spring fingers to move the same into engagement with said shoulder,a threaded stem on said cone, a nut on said threaded stem, and a springwithin the button bearing against said nut, said cone being providedywith pressure indicating marks and said nut being provided with anindicating arrow.

14. A tire signal comprising a barrel, a cap screwed thereon and formingpart thereof, a slidable button within said cap and.

having spring fingers, means within 4said cap 'forming a shoulder toengage said spring fingers, a cone within said cap, a spring within saidbutton and bearing against said cone, a diaphragm between said cap andbarrel, the upper` end of the barrel having a transverse oriice with anair inlet valve therein, and a gasket in the barrel below the inletvalve.

l5. A tire signal comprising a barrel, the

outer end of whiehis enlarged, a cap having an enlarged end screwed tothe enlarged end of the barrel, a diaphragm arranged within saidenlarged ends, a slidable button insaid cap, means cooperating with thediaphragm and responsive to the movements thereoiI for holding thebutton in one position when the diaphragm is distended and for movingthe button suddenly to its other position when the diaphragm moves toanother position.

16. A tire signal comprising a barrel, the

outer end of which is enlarged, a cap having an enlarged end screwed tothe enlarged end of the barrel, a diaphragm arranged within saidenlarged ends, a slidable button in said cap, means coperating with thediaphragm and responsive to the movements thereof for holding thebutt-on in one position when the .diaphragm is distended and for movingthe button suddenly to its other position when the diaphragm moves to`another position, the enlarged end of the barrel being formed. with alateral oriiice and a projecting nipple, and an air inlet valve withinsaid orilice.

1'?. A tire signal comprising a barrel, Athe outer end ot which isenlarged, a cap having an enlarged end screwed to the enlarged end I oithe barrel, a diaphragm arranged within said enlarged ends, a slidablebutton in said cap, means cooperating with the diaphragm and responsiveto the movements thereof for holding the button in one position when thediaphragm is distended and tor moving the button suddenly to its otherposit-ion when the diaphragm moves to another posi. tion, the enlargedend of the barrel being formed-with a lateral oriiice and a projectingnipple, an air valve inlet within said oriliee, and a rubber gaslretmolded around the edge 'of said diaphragm and being clamped between thecap and barrel.

18. A'tire signall comprising a barrel, the outer end of which isenlarged, a cap having an enlarged end screwed to the enlarged end ofthe barrel, a diaphragm arranged within said enlarged ends, a slidablebutton. in said cap, means cooperating with the diaphragm and responsiveto the movements thereof for holding the button in one position when thediaphragm is distended and for moving the button suddenly to its otherposition when the diaphragm moves to ann other position, and means atthe lowe'r end oi said barrel for securing the same to the 'alve stem ofthe tire.

19. A tire signal comprising a barrel, a button slidable therein andformed with spring lingers, means within the barrel forming a shoulder,a diaphragm in the' barrel exposed on one side to xthe pressure in thetire, a cone on the othleruside of the diaphragm adapted to spread thelingers oi Y the button into engagement with said shoulrder, av springbetween the button and said cone, the diaphragm having circuiriferentialcorrugations around its rim, and a. rubber gasket molded onto saidcorrugated edges.

ln testimony whereof, l have hereunto set in v hand at VLos Angeles,California, this V9th day of December, 1910.

. Y i. GERGE T. HAGLEY.

in presence FRANK L A. GRAHAM,

l?. ll. Snr-laren'.

